A former justice of the peace in Texas has been charged with making a "terroristic threat", a day after his home was searched in connection to the murder of two prosecutors. Eric Williams was admitted to the Kaufman County Jail early on Saturday morning, jail records show. A prison spokesperson said he was scheduled to go in front of a judge later on Saturday.

Federal and local authorities had searched Williams' home on Friday, as part of an investigation into the deaths of District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, whose bodies were found 30 March in their home. In late January, assistant DA Mark Hasse was fatally shot as he was leaving work in Kaufman, about 30 miles southeast of Dallas. Williams, 46, has not been named a suspect in any of the deaths.

The district attorney's office prosecuted and convicted Williams last year, for theft. He lost his justice of the peace position as a result.

Spokesmen for the FBI and the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office confirmed on Friday that they were executing a search warrant but declined to provide details. The warrant's underlying affidavit has been ordered sealed by a judge, said sheriff's lieutenant Justin Lewis.

Williams' attorney, David Sergi, released a statement saying his client "has cooperated with law enforcement and vigorously denies any and all allegations." "He wishes simply to get on with his life and hopes that the perpetrators are brought to justice," Sergi said.

Authorities have released little information about the case, except to say they continue to follow leads, including possible ties to a white supremacist gang. A month before Hasse's death, the Texas Department of Public Safety issued a warning to authorities statewide that the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas could retaliate for an October indictment that targeted some of its leaders. McLelland's office was involved in that investigation.